alysten | Bhakail Yule

A&S
Originally uploaded by alysten

Yay... Yule is over and feast has been served. People left happy and stuffed. The kitchen was amazing. We were on time, well staffed, and not too crazy. The kitchen crew overcame several large obstacles. Shifting schedules, unknown pantry ingredients, changing feast numbers and royal whims have not ruffled this crew. Each new challenge was met head on. Everyone pulled together to prepare a wonderful meal. We danced and it was awesome.

Bubba was a big hit. Apparently enough of one that I am now the new Bhakail A & S champion. I was called into Baronial court, and had no clue as to why. Sabine started off by saying, "we would love to have you up here with all the other champions... but as you are in the kitchen." That's as far as she got before I got out a surprised "what????" "Oh they didn't tell you." Apparently they had read off the list of winners. No they hadn't told me. Yes I was kinda still in shock. Though I did politely ask if they could hold the cloak and scroll so it didn't get icky. A very pretty scroll, with illuminations by Lissa510, Calligraphy by siobhan1214 and I'm not sure who else.

Dinner scroll was also a really big hit. Calligraphy by annyswolf and illuminations by ianraven.

Quotes of the day:
A: There will be no fainting in the kitchen. It is strictly forbodden.
M: If you are going to faint, you must go outside.

A: This is a quote free zone...
M: Says who?
L: You cannot escape the "quotes".

A: I smell like food.
M: what kind?
A: Yes.

A: hey dad... I have a new rigid parry devise.
I: oh?
A: honing steel. It's kinda shaped like a dagger...

Special thanks to, math5, violet_amy, oaken_glen, lissa510, genevra, katya, baronessjuliana, ladypeyton, bran, and the many other hands that came to help. Without your help, there would have been no food. Pre-prep, day of, you kept the kitchen happy, functioning, and very well fed. It was an honor and privilege to cook with all of you.

ubiq31, after an amazing dayboard, you stuck around and helped out with feast. Thank you very much.

siobhan1214, merricke, makers of fine wines, ports, sugar sculptures, and other delectable things. I hope the high table enjoyed your contributions. We certainly did. NOM!

Eglin, Gavin, unicornpearlz, without the mid-reveal dish washing fervor, we could not get any other dishes out. Thank you for the rapid dishes before, during and after feast. It helped keep the kitchen moving and prevented what could have been a clusterf@ck of an experience.

annyswolf, ianraven. I cannot say enough great things about the dinner scroll. It was beautiful.

beckishadow, you brought me a cannon. I will never cook without one again. Yay kitchen cannon.

To the all the folks who stayed to clean, wash pots, dry countless dishes and sweep the floors, my unending gratitude. You guys rocked.

Finally, to the Tadcaster Militia and respective spouses/partners/families, thank you. You are the mighty fridge/freezer purveyors, recipe testers, prep cooks, artists, voices of reason and awesome filled with the awesome. This would have been a far less successful dinner without your help and support.

I don't remember much else from the day, except that there were a lot of people, the hall looked awesome under candlelight, I swore fealty to their Majesties, her Majesty has a special project she wants to work on, I received several really nice thank you tokens, and I didn't sit down or stop moving all day.